How to do Google Maps Marketing

“Local results are based primarily on relevance, distance, and prominence. These factors are combined to help find the best match for your search.”

The main focus of Google Maps Marketing is to optimize your Google My Business (GMB) listing so that Google can easily establish relevance and prominence for your business.

What is Google My Business?

GMB is a free tool from Google for businesses. Google My Business allows businesses and organizations to manage their online presence across Google products, such as Maps and Search.

By using Google My Business, you will be able to manage your business information, interact with your customers, and understand and expand your presence.

Here are the top six ways to optimize GMB listing for better visibility on Google Maps:

1. Fill in an Accurate Address

This is arguably the most important part of Google Maps Marketing. You must load accurate, precise address into your Google My Business listing. The address you use must describe your business’s physical location; Google does not accept mailboxes or PO Boxes located at remote locations.

You must use USPS verified address (or any other postal agency applicable to your area).

Following are a few tips on entering your business address:

Instead of using broad city names or cross-streets, you must enter precise address for your business

Never use anything in your address that is not related to address, such as URL or keyword

Pin your business location directly on the map if the system can’t find your address.

After filling complete address, you need to add service area.

Do you serve at your location, or are you a phone-only company? You must clarify this. And never forget to list your business as a service area business if you serve customers at their own locations.

Make sure you also provide accurate information about your website, phone, business hours, and categories.

2. Optimize Your Google My Business Introduction

The introduction of Google My Business plays a vital role in Google Maps Marketing.

Why?

The introduction of GMB helps Google understand whether your business is related or not to a search query.

Here’s how to optimize your Google My Business introduction:

Avoid cramming the introduction with keywords

Mention in the introduction why you started your business and how you are different from your competitors

Answer every possible question your potential customers might have

Remember to write the introduction of your GMB listing in the language and tone of voice your target audience uses.

This should boost your business’s prominence on Google tremendously.

3. Get GMB Listing Verified

Once you’ve entered all of your information into Google My Business and updated your introdcution, you should get your listing verified. Without doing so, you will not stand a chance in getting a high rank on Google Maps.

Here are the methods Google offers to verify a business:

Postcard verification method

Phone verification method

Email verification method

Instant verification

Bulk verification

Most local businesses verify by the postcard method, but you can check whether your business qualifies for any other verification method or not.

4. Ask for Reviews

Business reviews support your Google Maps Marketing efforts as they build prominence for your business.

6. Build High-quality Links

“Your position in web results is also a factor, so SEO best practices also apply to local search optimization.”

Needless to say, high-quality links back to your site help your business rank higher in all search results.

To build up the number of links back to your site, simply try emailing various local businesses and asking if they might consider linking back to your business.

Conclusion:

Google Maps Marketing is an affordable, yet highly effective strategy to target local audience. Not only does it boost your local sales but also builds awareness for your brand. Follow these best Google Maps Marketing practices and reach locals without breaking the bank.

Lalit Sharma is the Founder & CEO of Ranking By SEO and an expert in Google Maps Marketing. He has written for industry sites such as Search Engine Journal, SEMrush, Social Media Today, and Business 2 Community.